Ofarim trial delayed: defense deliberates
The continuation of the trial against the Jewish musician Gil Ofarim for defamation and false accusation has been delayed. The artist's defense repeatedly withdrew from the Leipzig District Court on Tuesday morning for consultations, including with the representative of the joint plaintiff. It is unclear what this is about.
Previously, the testimonies of singer and actress Jeanette Biedermann and musician Gregor Meyle scheduled for this Tuesday had been postponed to December 7. A court spokesperson did not give any reasons for this.
Ofarim had made accusations of anti-Semitism against a Leipzig hotel in a video in October 2021. The video went viral on social media. According to the Leipzig public prosecutor's office, however, the incident did not take place in this way. After extensive investigations, Ofarim was charged. The proceedings against the hotel manager were dropped. He is appearing as a joint plaintiff in the proceedings. The court has scheduled further hearings until December 7.
According to the court spokesperson, Biedermann and Myle were not in the hotel, but are said to have had contact with Ofarim shortly afterwards. Both had hosted the TV show, which Ofarim was in Leipzig to record on October 4, 2021. Afterwards, the alleged anti-Semitic incident took place in the hotel.
The delay in the trial allows the defense to explore various aspects of the legal processes related to the crime accumulated against Gil Ofarim. Various musical collaborations and partnerships among artists, including Jeanette Biedermann and Gregor Meyle, could potentially impact the case.
Source: www.dpa.com
